Hi motorers,

My car is back to the MINI hospital for a CEL. A few weeks ago, it wouldn't start, and had its thermostat changed. A short while after, it was back again for another thermostat issue.

I got a call from my advisor yesterday and the CEL is still a thermostat issue. The advisor called BMW Canada and was refered to BMW in Germany for an update. It seems that BMW/MINI decided to changed the thermostat design and harness. BMW Canada will get 12 of the first units today or early next week.

Hopefully, this newly designed thermostat will fix many headaches for MINI owners...

 

That's great news! It's about time :P

Kyle

 

If they have a new, more robust design, they aught to recall all the original vehicles. This has the potential to strand a motorist at any time, and is not a fail safe design. When it fails, you can't even limp home. I don't think I'll ever be able to trust my CM with the design they have today. It's a failure waiting to happen.

Mark

 

FYI - mine wouldn't start one day, then started ten minutes later. Turned out to be the thermostat (telling the car it was too hot and forcing an emergency shutdown).

 

I'm wonder what my dealer will say if I ask to have mine replaced with the new design? I had mine replaced last December, but they replaced it with the exact same part number which I do not trust as some others have had theirs replaced 2 or 3 times. I subsequently sent MINI many messages asking them if an update was coming and got no response. Terrible customer relations if you ask me. I would have been happy had they said, "We are working on it."

 

If I understand the posts on this topic, the N18 motor has a one-piece housing that combines the traditional thermostat valve with a coolant temperature sensor. It is this sensor or its wiring that has been failing at an abnormal rate. The valve itself continues to work, restricting coolant flow to the radiator when its wax cylinder is cool. However, the engine ECU is fooled into thinking the engine is too hot when in fact it may be cold, thus causing poor or no cold starts and restricting engine power to 'save' the engine. And the ECU turns on the radiator fan when it is not needed.

I have not had this problem (yet), but after delivery I installed a Scangauge so I can monitor the coolant temperature reading (along with boost and other parameters). Hopefully if the failure mode of the temperature sensor is somewhat gradual I can determine ahead of time if it is failing. The normal value of coolant temperature is 220-225 F when warmed up in moderate weather. It is too bad that BMW has decided coolant temperature gauges are no longer required on its cars.

 

Seems on the hot side...would have expected 15 to 20 degrees lower.

 

Just spoke to one of the guys I work with who has a Scangauge on his 2011 MCS. He sees a normal range of 195 to 205 on his. He said he has seen about 220 in traffic on a hot day, but never more than that.

 

Typically an average cars runs around 220

 

I can't confirm that the 220 F temperature is normal for 2012's when warmed up, but the Scanguage reading when cold is accurate. It reads within 1 deg F of my garage thermometer at engine startup after sitting overnight. I've also noticed it warms up quickly compared to some of my previous cars. It takes about 3 miles until warmed up to 220 F in 70 F deg. ambient temperatures.

I hope my Jan. 2012 build car has the new thermostat design.

 

Correct, 220 is normal for the N14 and N18 engines, confirmed by my AeroForce Interceptor gauge readout. My radiator fan kicks on at ~235. If the A/C compressor is engaged, the ECU will drop the normal operating temp from 220 into the aforementioned 195-205 range.

 

The Countryman does have a coolant temperature gauge, you just have to have Mini Connected and an iPhone in order to use it.

 

Ah, not required, but available optional temp. gauge for $1000...

 

Has anyone heard of a source for the new and improved thermostats for an '03 Mini ?

 

Well, I'll get a chance to see if they have a new style thermostat tomorrow. Mine failed again, and I'm going to tell the dealer I will not accept another of the same. I can't afford to be stranded again without a car, and replacing the same poor design with another is not an acceptable alternative.

Mark

 

Looks like the Mr. Thermostat is acting up again (23,687 miles, "full power no longer available"). This one lasted about 5k miles.

Mini of Annapolis is getting the car back tonight and I will also ask for the new part number. It sucks because we live about 2 hours away but at least we are not stranded like the first time.

 

Ray, is this your second bad thermo, or third?

 

Is the thermostat issue an S-only problem or does it affect the base as well?

 

Shark, thermostat from factory failed around 17k and now showing signs of failure at 23k. So, 2nd bad thermostat.

Dropped it off last night and hopefully hear back today.

 

My thermostat got replaced today too. It was bad @ 20,000 kms. (2011 R60 with 11/2010 build date).

 

They called today and said the thermostat checked out fine. So no new parts for us.

Here is the whole story:
My wife gets in the car on the 9th in the morning. She gets the check engine red light and the "half engine" looking picture on the screen. The car has been sitting overnight inside the garage. The temp in the garage is never above 84F, so its not hot in there. To me, who is not a MINI tech, it sounds like the temp sensor issue again.

Throughout the day the red light stays on and she saids its feels sluggish. At 3pm or so we get in to head up to Annapolis and this time the light clears when I start it. We tried to call but they didn't pick up so we started heading up to Annapolis since its about 2 hours away.

In my mind they should have changed the part. The CEL and warning are a clue to an impending failure that will leave us stranded again...

EDIT: I didn't talk to service so I will wait and see what they say and what they did, if anything. Right now I am pissed but need to wait for their report.

 

So is this a 2011 then?

 

Yes sir. Bought used in November 2011 with 14,000 miles.

 

This does affect the base as well, as we have our 2011 in a second time for a thermostat. The first time it was replaced with the same part, about a year ago, and now it will be replaced with the new design, so hopefully this will not happen again after this.

We also have an oil drip and it is the oil pressure sending unit so that is going to be replaced along with the entire harness.

 

We had the oil pressure problem as well around 9000 miles.....fixed...